I call these unofficial because I’m not certain that I heard any of it correctly, I don’t want to be held accountable, yadda yadda yadda…

There will be meetings on Thursdays or Tuesdays in June, held with pastors, parents, and local youth, by Councilperson Rev.McQuinn. These meetings will be held to be in touch and get info. More info will come later.

It looks like the annual back-to-school parade will get kicked up a notch next year. Word has it that 9 historically black college bands will have a competition that weekend and participate in the parade. This would really be something.

35 RESPONSES

Isn’t it amazing that Dolores McQuinn is finally reaching out to the community with meetings to get in touch and get info. It just happens to be election time. What a shame she wouldn’t do this during the rest of her term. She might have understood what the problems are in her ward. I guess the lesson is clear that she is just a petty politician who is only concerned with her reelection and keeping the status quo in this area.

‘at’…please tell me how you know Ms. McQuinn is in touch with our district? She’s never responded to any of my attempts to communicate and I’ve had appointments with her liason twice result in no-shows…with no phone call ahead of time to let me know not to sit and wait and none after to say why the appointment wasn’t kept. I am TRULY curious about evidence that indicates, shows, or hints that she’s in touch. Thanks!

Here’s my take on McQuinn: her time on council has been largely an idea-free affair. Thus, she has no business dissing concerned citizens who are trying to improve this district. In other words, either be a good, smart policy wonk (which she is clearly not), or, represent your people in a dogged and committed fashion (which, she does not…one suggestion to improve this area would be for her to learn how to use e-mail!). Since she seems uninterested in becoming an expert on urban policy, perhaps we can ask her to be more committed to the district politically. Shame our only declared other option is a man who claims not to know what ethics are. Nice. I suspect, however, that she will get the support of our strong mayor, if for nothing else, she will never clog his agenda with new, challenging ideas… nor get to take political credit for anything. That said, I am sure she is a nice person… just a notch or two over her head right now.

My experience w/ McQuinn has been similar to Ann’s: several unreturned emails & phone calls. Kaine & Loupassi at least responded back when I lived in their districts, even if I didn’t like their responses.

If any of the complainants couched their complaints in the tone with which they are posted above, I’ll bet the liason or councilperson dismissed them as rants.

Anyway, the people who live in public housing elect Ms. McQuinn – she responds to their concerns more than yours. When there are enough of you (people who make more than 8K a year) in our district to be a meaningful demographic, you’ll get a response from her or her replacement then.

Rest assured that until the economic demographic changes, the councilperson for our district, no matter who it is, will represent only the concerns of the majority (who all live in public housing).

McQuinn is a joke. “We people” (as mentioned above) are the tax paying base that pays for the public housing that this “majority” lives in (and problems associated with it). We should get a voice as it is b/c of us that funds are available to support the programs that this majority enjoys. I guess we should quit our jobs, collect welfare, and start checking the box that says African American on the next census? Wilder should clean house instead of picking on RPS teachers. Oh, The joys of old Richmond politics.

Oops, someone had the guts to reveal the elephant in the room… which leads me to this question…how do the interests of those living in public housing differ from those in this community who do not? Aside from the obvious in terms of the effects on gentrification on keeping their communities intact, how do their needs for good city services, equitable economic development, better schools and safe communities vary from those voiced consistently here on this site? If they do, perhaps the councilwomen’s supporters would like to voice exactly just how these interests diverge? If they don’t (as I suspect) what we seem to have here is the rather spiteful politics of symbolism and identity; which, while pretty powerful and effective in getting one elected, has it limits in terms of an ability to govern effectively (just ask George Bush). So, what are our shared interests, and are there any means to express them politically? If the councilwomen prefers to make the bargain of symbolic power (her re-electability) over her desire to get things done that benefit the shared interests of her district, than no one here has any use for her. Especially her so-called friends who live in public housing. Sort of like those working class whites who turn out for the Repubs. Sure, a winning symbolic association feels good, but to what end? I apologize for the liberal elitism! (you know, suggesting that people who vote against their interests are doing so irrationally).

I can’t conceive of bragging about one’s elected official for NOT representing all constituents. Or imagine that pride turned toward an official who only represents those who earn MORE than 8K…not those who earn 8K or less. And what an outcry of “prejudice, bigotry” there would be in such a case.

Bob mentioned gentrification in his earlier tirade. If any of you were here in Richmond (like my family has been since the turn of the last century) you would know that the neighborhoods are just returning to the way they were 40 plus years ago. I don’t think the people who moved out in the 60’s and 70’s to suburbia complained of gentrification….. they just moved. All things come in cycles and the renovations in Church and Union Hills are coming back around to the way they were years ago. Sorry for complaining about such a small part of the paragraph but that issue really gets me. As for McQuinn, there is no such thing as a politician that does not have some special “group” they look out for. I agree, I don’t think Malone would be any different.

Considering that I saw “2 yoots” handcuffed together on 22nd and main the other day at 530 freakin’ PM… the RPD on the scene said that an undercover RPD officer had caught “these 2 yoots” attempting to break into an SUV parked on the street… I think that someone (maybe our council representation) needs to have a serious come to Jesus meeting with the community. Those kids couldn’t have been older than 12!! I’m totally disgusted!

Agreed on the gentrification comment above – the people who built the houses in which we leave, and lived in them until at least the 1930s, were not the same demographic as the peope who some of us have displaced.

I just spent a bit of time looking for information about our candidates, Malone and McQuinn ??, and I can’t find much online. I probably should have been paying more attention in the past and the election is still six months away, but does anyone have any good links to priorities, platforms, policies and such?

Without really having a dog in this fight, I would like to point out that speech patterns don’t really reflect too strongly on the character, integrity, or capability of a man or woman. Your reaction to this axing seems more the point: if not borderline racist, it is at least somewhat classist.

“Racist” to expect a MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD to speak at a basic level? If that comment was about a regular citizen, you would have a good point, Calvin, but the expectation that a school leader should lead by example is neither racist nor classist.

I think the conversation has digressed into some pretty unhealthy communication. My understanding of this web forum is that it is supposed to be about connecting neighbors to relevant local news and to each other in hopes that we can collectively find solutions. Sometimes those solutions will be compromises of our diverse opinions and backgrounds.. but should be a good thing. I would hope that we can hold diverging opinions about our local officials as well as different perspectives about other neighborhood issues, norms without personal attacks. How about we talk about what we would like to see from our local officialsâ€¦ what would a responsive City Council rep look like? How can we advocate for better representation?

Bill and Ann are a joke.It is evident that their affiliation with the district is prematurely negative. I’m wondering are they residents of the district. If they are residents, then they haven’t resided in the district over 2 years. As a matter of fact, I bet the disgruntle two have a pathetic connection to persons who live in the 600 and 800 block of North 27th street. Everybody knows that Mcquinn has done wonders for the district. I think that folks need to check out Mcquinn’s Opposition record. It is evident who has the best record.

This particular Ann has lived in the district about 7 years and yep, I am disgruntled and yep, I probably have some mental issues I need to deal with. How do your accusations relate to adequate council representation?

It relates to it because anybody can see the the work that Mcquinn has done.Yes I said you are disgruntle, and I’ve got a few more choice words to describe you to. But………I rather not do that.I’ve been in the district over 40 years and I’ve seen a major fix up in the past 8 years. Mcquinn return my calls and emails. Give the lady a chance. I guess you are leaning toward the crooked opposition. Oh by the way…….. The Back to School rally has been around for over 15 years.

Alright, whoever you are, if you start talking about N 27th, you’re going to open a box that you can’t close. If you cannot play well with others, get off of the computer. Maybe find something else to do. Play in traffic, drink your 40 in the street and let the cops get you. This is NOT the forum for personal attacks on the users of this site.